American guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg brings his quartet to the England and Eire for dates in Cambridge, Manchester, Dublin and London in November. It’s the first go to to those shores for the group since earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic. Well-known for his contribution to wonderful bands lead by Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joe Locke and Ari Hoenig, Kreisberg can be now firmly established as a bandleader, bringing an intensive data of jazz, depth of expertise on the New York scene and an open minded strategy evident in his writing and improvising. Tour preview by Dan Paton

A reside recording from 2019, “Capturing Spirits”, finds the Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet (albeit in a distinct iteration from the group touring within the UK, with Kreisberg and drummer Colin Stranahan as the 2 constant members) enjoying with depth, fluidity and occasional restraint. Whereas the album options Martin Bejerano on Piano and Matt Clohesy on Bass, the quartet touring Europe consists of Marko Churnchetz and Phil Donkin, a bass participant well-known to UK jazz audiences. This can be a small ensemble line-up of outstanding high quality and depth. Kreisberg, well-known for his contribution to wonderful bands lead by Hammond B3 legend Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joe Locke and Ari Hoenig, can be now firmly established as a bandleader, bringing an intensive data of jazz, depth of expertise on the New York scene and an open minded strategy evident in his writing and improvising. 

Kreisberg has been a large ranging and versatile musician over the course of his profession, having labored with a progressive rock group (Third Want), carried out twentieth Century works with the New World Symphony beneath Michael Tilson Thomas, launched a superb solo guitar album (2013’s “One”) and constructed a longstanding musical relationship with nylon string guitarist Nelson Veras. His personal work as a pacesetter sounds confidently up to date, but in addition attracts from the jazz custom, and Kreisberg isn’t averse to together with requirements and well-known jazz compositions in his observe lists (Capturing Spirits ends with a model of “Physique and Soul”, he has recorded “Stella By Starlight” greater than as soon as and his 2004 trio album “9 Tales Vast” consists of a fascinating tackle “Summertime” rearranged in 5, later reprised as a solo piece on “One”). 

A lot of Kreisberg’s personal music is kinetic, typically each supported and enhanced by his fast witted rhythm sections, with an agility to the music’s rhythm and motion. Kreisberg’s intuitive and interactive musical relationship with drummer Colin Stranahan is now cemented by way of a wide range of line-ups, and Kreisberg has additionally recorded with two wonderful trios. Considered one of these unites Kreisberg with the nice Larry Grenadier and Invoice Stewart, one other with Gary Versace and Mark Ferber. Whereas there’s clearly a powerful emphasis on rhythm in his work, the outcomes by no means sound cluttered, bustling or frantic, largely as a result of his considered use of type and area. The unique compositions included on “Capturing Spirits” have a sense of being directly each a science and an artwork – there’s each an inside logic and an class to the writing, maybe most clearly heard within the compelling, richly melodic “Relativity”. 

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“The Elevate” strikes from an inistent, memorable riff at an thrilling tempo to a frivolously swinging part to help a piano solo, through some knotty and complex traces from Kreisberg. By the use of distinction, the gorgeous Every thing Wants One thing is a sluggish grooving ballad, with a touch that Kreisberg could take pleasure in up to date R&B, and with thought-about use of area. 

Certainly, this use of area informs even the brisker tunes, as Kreisberg’s improvising is characterised with considerate variation in pacing and the within the form and size of his phrases. On the superb Belief Fall, he performs a lyrical and fluid guitar solo than has loads of respiration area inside it, at the same time as his traces begin to cascade with a way of effortlessness. Kreisberg has stated that he’s largely impressed by horn gamers in the way in which that he constructs his traces. 

On the discharge of the album “Wave Upon Wave” in 2014 (with Will Vinson featured on saxophone and Kevin Hays on piano, alongside Kreisberg and Stranahan), Kreisberg’s explantion of the title stated a lot about his strategy to jazz: “Relentlessly breaking on the shore, and every bringing forth the codes of the previous…But in addition from the depths comes one thing new.” Kreisberg’s music doesn’t essentially sound as if he’s trying to reinvent the wheel, or be a part of any specific pattern or modish improvement. He’s unshowy in type, however his melodies and his enjoying clearly show a dedication to understanding the historical past of the music. But there’s additionally a way of improvement, of discovering the weather of a particular voice. 

Kreisberg has a capability to reshape and refashion recognisable components and influences into one thing modern, nuanced and textured. On this European tour, the band proposes to play materials from throughout Kreisberg’s catalogue, alongside items from “Catching Spirits” and a few model new compositions. Will probably be fascinating to get a small sense of the place they’re heading subsequent. 

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London Jazz Information additionally has a prize draw copy of the Capturing Spirits CD for a London Jazz Information weekly publication subscriber. 

BAND+

Jonathan Kreisberg – guitar
Marko Churnchetz – piano
Phil Donkin – bass
Colin Stranahan – drums

Jonathan Kreisberg England tour dates: 

Sunday 5 November. 
STAPLEFORD GRANARY, Cambridge
Stapleford Granary, Bury Street, Stapleford, Cambridge CB22 5BP.
Ticket hyperlink: https://www.staplefordgranary.org.uk/whats-on/occasions

Monday 6 November. 
NQ JAZZ, Manchester.
The Yard, 11 Bent Road, Manchester M8 8NF.
Ticket hyperlink https://www.nqjazz.co.uk/whats-on/jonathankresiberg

(Tuesday 7 November in Dublin /  Arthur’s Pub, Thomas St. Dublin 8 / Two units – Bookings)

Wednesday 8 November.

PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB, London.
Pizza Categorical Jazz Membership, 10 Dean Road, London W1D 3RW
Ticket hyperlink: https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/jonathan-kreisberg-quartet